De Villiers hails Abhishek Sharma’s “power, hand-eye coordination”, offers advice to Suryakumar on slower balls
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
AB de Villiers Praises Abhishek Sharma’s Power-Packing Style Ahead of India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Clash
AB de Villiers, the cricket legend from South Africa, can’t stop raving about Indian opener Abhishek Sharma. With the high-stakes Asia Cup match against Pakistan coming up in Dubai on Sunday, de Villiers highlighted Abhishek’s explosive power, sharp hand-eye coordination, and his knack for smashing the ball right off the middle of the bat.
Abhishek made heads turn in India’s opening Asia Cup game against the UAE. Chasing a modest 58 runs, he blazed to 30 off just 16 balls, including two fours and three massive sixes. This performance keeps his stellar form alive throughout the year, making him a nightmare for bowlers in T20 cricket.
In a chat on his YouTube channel, de Villiers broke it down: "I think he is the power player. He loves slower balls and flat bats in the V. Incredible power and great hand-eye coordination. He finds the middle of the bat more often than most players. He is a handful in those first six overs. He hits it all over the ground, which is a problem for the opposition bowlers and captain. Just really difficult to bowl to—you need to be spot on with your execution if you want to counter his ability."
Abhishek’s T20I stats back up the hype. In 18 matches, he’s racked up 565 runs across 17 innings, boasting an average of 33.23 and a blistering strike rate of 193.49. That’s two centuries and two fifties—proof he’s a game-changer in the shortest format.
De Villiers didn’t stop there. He also shared some handy tips for Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav on tackling slower deliveries. Suryakumar has faced a bit of a rough patch since taking over the captaincy last year, scoring 265 runs in 15 innings at an average of 18.92 and a strike rate of 163.58, with two fifties and a top score of 75. His record against Pakistan isn’t great either—just 64 runs in five games at an average of 12.80, with a best of 18.
"When you face slower balls, you need the ability to keep your base and shape for a longer period of time and allow the ball to come into your space," de Villiers advised. "I wouldn’t say it’s his weakness, especially if he doesn’t get out to it often. My advice to him would be: if you’re struggling to clear the boundary in front of square off slower balls, just make sure you rotate—maybe get two runs. The bowler can’t always bowl slower balls. I don’t think it is a weakness."
As India gears up for the Asia Cup showdown with Pakistan, fans are buzzing about Abhishek’s potential impact in the powerplay. With de Villiers’ endorsement, expect some fireworks from the young star.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
